Summer Universiade: More than a Sports Competition

 

 Mr. Cha and his brother

GWANGJU – With the slogan ‘the Soul of Korea’, Jeong-yeon Cha, a co-operator of Gwangju Universiade Organization Committee and a publisher of ‘Art Guide’, a publishing company, started to exhibit mountain photos at a corner of the Athletes’ Village. During the Universiade, Cha devotes himself to show Korean culture to Gwangju’s visitors, “I want everyone from all over the world to understand Korean culture. The Soul of Korea, actually, is to show the respect for the mountain culture”, Cha said there are lots of marvellous mountains around the Korean peninsula, and also the Korean culture originated from the Baekdoo, Hanla Jiri Mountain.

Korean culture cannot only be found on every corner of the Athletes’ Village. In the AV’s Main Information Centre one can find information regarding all Korean cultural events in Gwangju, such as a music festival, local cultural exhibitions etc.

Traditional Korean Medicine at the Athletes’ Village Polyclinic

On the other hand, the Korean Medicine room at the Polyclinic, is a special way to learn about traditional Korean therapy methods. Acupuncture, moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing) and cupping jar are some of the therapies which are different from the western approach. “Many athletes already came here to know about the Korean traditional medicine”, one of the doctors commented.

Indeed, the Universiade is not only a sports celebration, but it is also a chance for the student athletes to discover the local cultural peculiarities.

 

Jiang Kaixiao (CHN), FISU Young Reporter